www.RINGOLD.net
© May 26, 2008
FIRST THINGS FIRST! Find a military (or ex-military) person today, and say THANK YOU! Most of you know that I served 20 years (and 18 days) in the U.S. Air Force, but you don't need to thank me. HOWEVER, if you wanted to say thanks to either of my two sons, feel free (but not obligated, since neither of them went in for "the thanks.") Kelvin Jr. is serving in the U.S. Army and has had two tours in Iraq. Michael J. is doing his 2nd term in the U.S. Navy and did spend a few months "in the region".
NEXT! It's been a while, and I'm sure you wondered what happened to me (if not, just lie to me... LOL.) I'm happy to report that I'm alive and well, and have been very busy. Initially I was working on a couple of goals -- we knocked out numbers 5 and 6 (near the bottom) -- and then, just *stuff*.
One thing happened that wasn't on the goals list: I was sworn in as president of the Professional Photographers' Society of New York State. I knew that would be a big job, but knowing it and *being it* are two different things. For giggles, there's a 5 minute video excerpt from my incoming remarks. If you've got 5 minutes to blow and want to see what I look like in a tux... be a Pepper and click the link. I feel safe, since you can't throw tomatoes from an email.
So, how are you doing with your goals? I have GOOD news! About 18% of you identified yourselves as 3 Percent-ers ! In case you didn't, 2008 is still young. THERE'S STILL TIME! All you have to do is email me your top 10 (or 5 or 3...whatever) goals for 2008. In fact, you don't even need to send them to me. All you need to do is write them down, and you'll be in the top 3 percent of people in the world! Emailing them to me just gives you a cheerleader (or maybe a coach) and somebody who appreciates what it takes to commit --even to yourself -- to accomplish a goal. So, if you wrote them down and didn't email them, you still win !! Just let me know (please).
I still have 8 of my 10 goals to go, which begs the question, "Gee, Kelvin, how you doin' on the others ?!" And my answer is, some goals are more perfect than others. Do you remember the law of physics from high school that states "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction?" Well, writing down your goals is an action (Note: A goal... is a dream... with a date attached.) And sometimes, when you do that, a similar pseudo-physics law is invoked that applies equal and opposite reactions in the form of obstacles placed in our way.
Okay, my general philosophy regarding obstacles is that there are three things you can do with them:
1. Go around them
2. Climb over them
3. Blow them suckers to smithereens and drive leisurely through the spot where they used to be (where is Wiley Coyote when you need him.) A GRRRRRRREAT philosophy, in my opinion.
But, WHAT IF the obstacle standing in my way is... ME !? Yeah... that tends to make option #3 fairly problematic.
- (Note: For the record, "blow them suckers to smithereens" is a figurative concept, and does not denote, promote or imply any type violent actions or tendencies.)
Some years ago, I listened to a seminar by a gentleman named Skip Ross, who presented his 8 Dynamic Principles of Success, and for each principle there was a summary statement. Later on, I plan to do a series on these principles, but right now I want to discuss -- briefly -- Skip Ross' Principle of Vacuum. And the summary statement for the Principle of Vacuum is: "Get rid of what you don't want, to make room for what you DO want!"
I don't know about you, but I look around my life and see all the things I do -- the things I allow myself to be distracted by -- and I say to myself, "now just exactly how does [name your diversion] help me to achieve my goals?" How does it benefit me? How many things do we do on a daily basis that not only take us away from attaining our goals, but actually take us in an equal and opposite direction from our goals?
In my case, there's a bunch; and something that goes hand-in-hand with this Principle of Vacuum thing is a statement I learned from a gentleman named Jim Floor. Jim says, "First you have to decide what you want. And then, you have to decide what you're willing to give up to get what you want." You can't have it all, do it all. A lot of us -- including me -- want to do something new, but don't want to give up anything we're already doing, to make room for it. But, if we don't create that vacuum -- a place for "whatever it is" to go -- there's no way to fit it in. And yours truly, is the king of "over-extended." We must create an empty space, so that the things we want to have or happen, have some place to go. And THAT is what I'll be doing for the next few weeks, so the goals most important for me can happen.
Are you like me? Do you need to clear some stuff out ? It could be physical, mental, emotional, conceptual, material (junk?). How about a limiting attitude, or counterproductive habit? or anything in your life that is equal and opposite to the goals or expectations that you have set for yourself. Got space?
So, we'll see where I am in a month, and I look forward to reporting back to you. If you have something to share, please do. If I can share it -- even anonymously -- with our readers, let me know that, too.
So, until next time, have a fantabulous summer ! I look forward to hearing from you, and remember:
... and the first step in creating it, is to set your goals.
See you next time.
4747 Stonehurst Road, Liverpool, NY 13090, USA
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4747 Stonehurst Road, Liverpool, NY 13090, USA